Restaurant With 2 Locations In Central Oregon Fined $35K Over COVID-19 Rules

BEND, Ore. (AP) – A diner with locations in Bend and Redmond has been fined $35,000 for allegedly violating COVID-19 restrictions. The Bulletin reports the Black Bear Diner locations allowed indoor dining when Deschutes County was in the extreme risk category due to high coronavirus caseloads. Oregon Occupational Safety and Health says the restaurants “willfully” continue to potentially expose workers to the virus, despite a public health order of limited or zero indoor dining. Diner owner Kathy Degree has hired Kevin L. Mannix law firm to appeal the penalty. She believes she was properly adhering to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rules and regulations for businesses that were permitted to be open at the time.